Willie Collum was under fire last night after allowing a shameful two footed lunge by Ryan Stevenson on James McPake go unpunished.
The incident happened in clear view of Collum- who has previously given a penalty despite having his back to play- as the two players went for a loose ball close to the touchline.
While McPake kept his eye on the ball looking to put the ball out for a throw-in Stevenson took a look at the Hibs player and decided to lunge in with both feet off the ball colliding with McPake.
Television viewers looked on in horror but after a short time on the ground McPake was able to continue playing.
It was a clear cut red card offense that can put a fellow professional out of action for months or put their career in question, the type of ‘challenge’ that anyone with an appreciation for the game would instantly recognise. But not Collum- he gave a throw-in
Hibs defender Ryan McGivern didn’t hold back when he was asked about the incident after the match.
“I think it was a disgusting tackle,” the on-loan defender said. “I’ve seen it back again as well. The referee said both players were going for the ball. James is going from a different angle with a slide tackle.
“Stevenson has had a little look and he knows he is going to try and ‘do’ him. The referee has had a wee bit of stinker there for letting that one go. The ref had a good game tonight but not to see that one was pretty poor.
“For me, it was a red card tackle. James isn’t going to make a fuss about nothing, he’s not that kind of guy. Straight away, he said to the ref it was a two-footed lunge. I think everyone saw that it was, apart from the ref. James has got a nasty cut on his leg.”
Stevenson could be charged by SFA Compliance Officer Vincent Lunny but the bigger question that the SFA should be asking is how did Collum fail to notice the severity of the challenge.
The UEFA official was roundly criticised for his handling of the Third Division clash between Queens Park and Sevco at the weekend where Ally McCoist was forced to substitute Ian Black and a home player was booked in a case of mistaken identity.
While Collum continues to be given matches which are way beyond his capabilities other younger officials will wonder at what the criteria are to progress through the ranks in Scottish refereeing circles.
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Collum is incompetent
Or shite in Glasgow speak
Hey, hey guys.. Lets not argue, he’s incompetent AND shite!
it pretty obvious he favours sevco and hearts not sure it what order but they both seem to get the decisions in there favour when willie is the ref
He is also a catagory A wank
The only referee on the planet with eyes in his arse, and blind in both of them and the ones in his heid!
It should be accepted, that broadly speaking, every ref,viewing a given scenario, should reach similar conclusions and punishment scales. That is why the rules are there, guidelines issued, and tuition and courses provided. How can it be, that one man can be so wrong! Everyone seen this “challenge”” as straight red! Myself, my daughter, and the dog looking through the frosted glass door. Why is this Numpty still employed? The SFA are using OUR money to handsomely reward this incompetance in both remuneration and generous expenses. It is time to use that money more shrewdly. Foreign refs must be utilised. Ram the ref’s union! They are hardly the miners wi an angry Scargill leading them. Where’s the integrity with these lying cheats pulling the important strings on the pitch.
Lets not forget only two seasons ago most Scottish Referees failed an exam set by the SFA>
Has to be said the overall standard of our referee’s can hardly have been any lower than current abysmal level.
Yet according to themselves via Kenny Clark, Dallas etc we are lucky to have such high quality officials. Given they have an additional official to help out, I’m sure all mic’d up and watching slow mo replays, why are they still making so many glaring errors.
Not an easy job I agree, but they are making it so much harder for themselves. What happened to the back 10 yards for dissent rule, the rule on keepers releasing the ball early etc. Hate seeing players steal yards at throw-ins, or standing on the ball to delay free kicks (Where is the advantage to the side fouled).
As for having to leave the park when kicked while the culprit stays on…says it all about those in posiitons of power.
Apply the rules properly especially at corners, throw cards about and punish those most guilty. It will soon sort out those that rely on stopping those who CAN play.
Get the ref on TV to explain his decisions, shouldn’t be difficult surely….unless they want to hide from the obvious incompetence. If they hold their hands up and say sorry, I made a mistake I’m sure more fans would be accepting of them rather than refuse to admit a wrong doing.
Foriegn refs is the only solution, the game is corrupt throughout in this country, Catholic teams will never be treated fairly until, we stand up together, if that tackle was against the union jack waving aids ridden proddies it would have been a suspension, never mind a red card
Scottish Referee’s are corrupt…simples
Has anybody apart from me noticed the MIB’S silence during all the Hun comedy saga, are you worried you might get exposed as well as the tax dodgers?? My eye has never been off you tho…cheating scum.
boy in Black there are all the same only in Scotland
Sure it was a foreign ref that gave a phantom penalty against us in Turin and again at Old Trafford while denying us a good claim v Milan at San Siro.
Incompetent, scared or honest mistakes…Either way this thug (Ryan Stevenson) should be hammered with a 3-4 match ban. Collum should be demoted for a season at least.
Collum is just the tip of the iceberg.
Foreign officials for me.